BlackPlanet.com Announces Winner of the Soul Beach Music Contest

BlackPlanet.com Announces Winner of the Soul Beach Music Contest

ABBY DOBSON OF FREEPORT, NY WILL PERFORM LIVE AT THE 2009 SOUL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN ARUBA

NEW YORK, May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackPlanet, the premiere African American social network, has announced the winner of the Soul Beach Music Contest, a search for the most talented BlackPlanet member in the underground soul music genre. The winner of the contest will perform live at the Soul Beach Music Festival taking place Memorial Day Weekend in Aruba.

Abby Dobson, a soulful songstress from Freeport, NY received the most votes from thousands of BlackPlanet members who voted for their favorite from six finalists who were selected by a BlackPlanet judging committee that reviewed all of the entries. The finalists, selected based on performance, creativity, personality, and overall vocals included YahZarah from Washington, DC, Nuwamba from Frisco, TX, Blaaz from Goldsboro, NC, Slick N Rose from Atlanta, GA, Steve Soul of Philadelphia, PA and of course, Abby Dobson whose sultry rendition of "Born 2 Love U" won over voters and will wow the audience when she takes the stage at Soul Beach in Aruba, May 24th. Abby's profile can be viewed at www.blackplanet.com/abbydobson.

"I heard that the Soul Beach Music Festival is one of the best and I'm so glad I entered the BlackPlanet music contest," said Abby Dobson. "Winning this competition is such an awesome opportunity. It's HUGE...I get to open for Common and Robin Thicke in ARUBA... how incredible is that! I'm gonna walk away with wonderful experiences this Memorial Day Weekend. Would you believe I dreamed of winning? ... And I actually did win!!! Here's to making the world you dream."

BlackPlanet members who voted in the contest were automatically entered to win an all expense paid trip for two to the 2009 Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival courtesy of BlackPlanet.com. The winner of that contest is Tammi Norman of Atlanta, GA.

BlackPlanet is the presenting sponsor of the 2009 Soul Beach Music Festival. The festival will take place over Memorial Day Weekend in Aruba's sun-kissed paradise with five days of spectacular events. Soul music lovers from around the world will enjoy sizzling beach parties, hot nightclubs and live concerts from artists including Jamie Foxx, Estelle, Wayne Brady, Robin Thicke, Etana and Common.

"We are thrilled to partner with Mark Adkins and The 9th Annual Soul Beach Music Festival. This contest provided a wonderful platform for our members to showcase their musical talent and to offer them the opportunity of a lifetime," said Maria Weaver Watson, Director of Strategic Marketing for Interactive One. "We are overwhelmed by the talent in our BlackPlanet Community and want to congratulate Abby on her win. I look forward to seeing her perform at the festival and to follow her career and those of our many talented members for years to come."

For more information on the 9th Annual Soul Beach Music Festival Presented by BlackPlanet.com, please call 1.877.238.6843 or visit www.aruba.com or www.soulbeach.net.

ABOUT INTERACTIVE ONE

Interactive One draws in over 18 million members, with over 9 million monthly unique visitors and more than 8 billion annual page views and features member aggregated news, events, video, photo sharing and social networking, along with groups, forums, and blogs. Content sites in the network include: NewsOne (www.NewsOne.com), which provides up to the minute, comprehensive coverage of newsworthy events relevant to African Americans across the country and the world through syndicated news, original news reports, local content and opinion blogs from some of the most provocative minds in Black America. TheUrbanDaily (www.TheUrbanDaily.com), serves as the eyes and ears for African Americans looking for a one-stop, comprehensive destination for entertainment news, information, gossip and opinion and original celebrity interviews. HelloBeautiful (www.HelloBeautiful.com), celebrates the lives and style of African American women with a dynamic daily mix of fashion, beauty, entertainment and relationship content. Interactive One will launch additional sites to focus on health, empowerment and provide tools to uplift the community.

Interactive One was launched by Radio One in 2007 to complement Radio One's existing portfolio of media companies targeting the African American community. Since its launch, Interactive One has quickly become the #1 online platform for the African American community, serving more than 9 million users. Interactive One is powered by the mission to create an online community that engages and positively impacts the lives of African Americans.

ABOUT RADIO ONE

Radio One, Inc. (www.radio-one.com) is one of the nation's largest radio broadcasting companies and the largest radio broadcasting company that primarily targets African-American and urban listeners. Radio One owns and/or operates 52 radio stations located in 16 urban markets in the United States. Radio One also owns Magazine One, which publishes Giant Magazine (www.giantmag.com), interests in TV One (www.tvoneonline.com), a cable/satellite network programming primarily to African-Americans, Reach Media (www.blackamericaweb.com), owner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show and other businesses associated with Tom Joyner, and Interactive One. The company is led by Chairperson and Founder Catherine L. Hughes, and her son, Alfred Liggins, III, who is Chief Executive Officer and President.

Source: BlackPlanet

CONTACT: Lee Rothchild for BlackPlanet, +1-212-981-5124

Web Site: http://www.soulbeach.net/

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